{"product_id":"ds-audio-ds-003-system","title":"DS 003 System","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"pa-d5\" style=\"color:#080808;line-height:1.6;font-size:15px\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 6px;font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8d1935;font-weight:600\"\u003eDS Audio · DS 003\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 14px;font-size:18px;line-height:1.45;font-weight:600\"\u003eThe DS 003 System pairs the line-contact DS 003 optical cartridge with its matching equalizer: everything for very quiet, highly resolving optical playback except the turntable and tonearm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"display:inline-block;margin:0 0 18px;padding:4px 10px;border:1px solid #d8d5ce;border-radius:2px;font-size:13px;color:#55524c\"\u003eSystem price includes the DS 003 cartridge and DS 003 Equalizer. Specify stereo or mono cartridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:1px;background:#d8d5ce;border:1px solid #d8d5ce;margin:0 0 22px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e70 mV\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003ecartridge output\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e7.7 g\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003ecartridge weight\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e4 settings\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003eequalizer low-cut\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e500 mV\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003eequalizer output\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eA DS Audio system pairs an optical cartridge with the equalizer built for it, so the two are matched from the start and you add nothing but a turntable and tonearm. The DS 003 cartridge reads the groove with light: a beryllium shading plate on an aluminum cantilever moves between an LED and a photodetector, with its own pair for each channel, so there are no magnets or coils and no magnetic drag on the cantilever. Output is 70 mV at 1 kHz from a line-contact stylus, the body is A5052 aluminum with a stainless steel cantilever holder, channel separation is 27 dB or more, and it tracks at 2.0 to 2.2 g.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eThe DS 003 Equalizer powers the cartridge through the tonearm cable and delivers 500 mV at line level to two pairs of RCA outputs, with a four-position low-cut selector to tailor the deep bass to your room and speakers. Its board is thicker and carries heavier copper than the previous generation, and it is hand-built in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 20px\"\u003eWhat Hi-Fi? reviewed this exact pair and found it clear, precise and expressive, with deep, punchy bass and strong dynamics, and called it hard to beat for the money. The Absolute Sound's Tom Martin heard a neutral, transparent sound with wide, deep imaging. Hi-Fi News found that the Master3 cartridge sounded very similar on this equalizer as on its own, so the system also makes a strong base for a later cartridge upgrade. The 7.7 g cartridge suits most medium-mass tonearms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eKey technologies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 20px;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThird-generation optical generator.\u003c\/strong\u003e Beryllium shading plate, independent LED and photodetector per channel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLine-contact stylus.\u003c\/strong\u003e On an aluminum cantilever with a stainless steel holder; 70 mV output.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUpgraded equalizer board.\u003c\/strong\u003e Thicker board and heavier copper foil, hand-built in Japan.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour low-cut settings.\u003c\/strong\u003e Match the bass to room and loudspeakers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo RCA outputs.\u003c\/strong\u003e 500 mV from 120 Ω into any line input of 10 kΩ or more.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdetails open style=\"border-top:1px solid #080808;margin:0 0 6px\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;padding:12px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;margin:0 0 14px\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eIncludes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eDS 003 optical cartridge and DS 003 Equalizer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eCartridge output\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e70 mV at 1 kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eCartridge tracking force\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e2.0–2.2 g (2.1 g recommended)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eCartridge weight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e7.7 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eStylus \/ cantilever\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eLine contact \/ aluminum, stainless steel holder\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eCartridge body\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eAluminum (A5052)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eChannel separation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e27 dB or more at 1 kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eEqualizer output\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e500 mV at 1 kHz; 120 Ω; load 10 kΩ or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eEqualizer inputs \/ outputs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e1 pair RCA \/ 2 pairs RCA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eLow-cut filter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eFour selectable settings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eEqualizer dimensions (W × H × D)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e13.0 × 3.6 × 11.6 in (330 × 92 × 295 mm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eEqualizer weight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e11 lb (5.0 kg)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 14px;font-size:13px\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ds-audio-w.biz\/products\/219\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eDS Audio DS 003 product page and specifications\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-top:1px solid #080808;border-bottom:1px solid #080808;margin:0 0 22px\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;padding:12px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600\"\u003eWhere it sits in the range\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px\"\u003eDS Audio's complete cartridge-and-equalizer systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ds-e3\"\u003eDS Audio DS-E3 System\u003c\/a\u003e: DS-E3 cartridge and equalizer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDS Audio DS 003 System\u003c\/strong\u003e (this model)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ds-w3-system\"\u003eDS Audio DS-W3 System\u003c\/a\u003e: DS-W3 cartridge and equalizer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ds-audio-ds-master3-optical-cartridge-system\"\u003eDS Audio Master3 System\u003c\/a\u003e: Master3 cartridge and equalizer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/grand-master-optical-phono-cartridge-system\"\u003eDS Audio Grand Master System\u003c\/a\u003e: Grand Master cartridge and two-chassis equalizer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0\"\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ds-003-optical-phono-cartridge\"\u003ecartridge\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ds-audio-ds-003-equalizer\"\u003eequalizer\u003c\/a\u003e are also sold separately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eReviews\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 22px;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/ds-audio-ds-003\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eWhat Hi-Fi?: DS Audio DS 003 review\u003c\/a\u003e (January 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theabsolutesound.com\/articles\/review-the-ds-audio-003-phono-cartridge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eThe Absolute Sound: Review: The DS Audio 003 Phono Cartridge\u003c\/a\u003e (Tom Martin, February 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hifinews.com\/content\/ds-audio-ds-003-cartridge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eHi-Fi News: DS Audio DS 003 Cartridge\u003c\/a\u003e (Ken Kessler and Paul Miller, November 2021)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding:16px 18px;background:#f7f6f2;border-left:3px solid #8d1935\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 4px;font-weight:600\"\u003ePlan your DS Audio system with Pearl Audio\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;font-size:14px\"\u003ePearl Audio is an authorized DS Audio dealer. We can mount and align the cartridge on your tonearm, set up the equalizer, and arrange an audition of the complete system in our Portland showroom. Call \u003ca href=\"tel:+15032222599\"\u003e(503) 222-2599\u003c\/a\u003e or email \u003ca href=\"mailto:sales@pearlaudio.com?subject=DS%20Audio%20DS%20003%20System\"\u003esales@pearlaudio.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"DS Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43198221615202,"sku":null,"price":7000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2475\/2780\/files\/ds-003-system.png?v=1786353538","url":"https:\/\/pearlaudio.com\/products\/ds-audio-ds-003-system","provider":"Pearl Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}